Cleveland Browns News

If this were a game of connect the dots, it appears the picture being formed is of Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards wearing a different uniform in 2009.

Browns general manager George Kokinis and coach Eric Mangini have beefed up the receiving corps more than any other position this offseason, possibly to set up a trade involving Edwards.

The makeover started by trading Kellen Winslow Jr., a tight end who played more like a wide receiver at times. The latest addition is Mike Furrey, a six-year NFL veteran with 198 career receptions. He played with the Lions the last three seasons after playing three seasons with the Rams.

Furrey is the sixth wide receiver added to the roster since Mangini and Kokinis took over after the Browns finished 4-12 in 2008. They signed David Patten (Saints) and Devale Ellis in free agency. They drafted Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi in the second round and signed Jordan Norwood of Penn State as an undrafted rookie.

The Browns would be a mess at wide receiver without those additions because Donte Stallworth faces an uncertain future stemming from a DUI manslaughter charge and because the Browns released Joe Jurevicius. Joshua Cribbs has never proven he can catch the ball consistently and Syndric Steptoe is a fourth receiver at best. Paul Hubbard did not play in a regular-season game in 2008.

Stallworth is scheduled for arraignment May 21 for a traffic accident police say killed 59-year-old Mario Reyes on March 14. According to toxicology reports, Stallworth's blood alcohol content was .126 at the time of the accident. The legal limit in Florida is .08.

Furrey, 6-feet, 195 ponds, is 32 years old. He was an undrafted rookie with the Colts in their 2000 training camp. He played with the Las Vegas Outlaws in the defunct XFL in 2001 and in 2002 and 2003 played with the New York Dragons in the Arena Football League. The Rams picked him up and employed him for three years beginning in 2003 after the Dragons' season ended.

Furrey's best year as a pro was in 2006 when he caught 98 passes with the Lions for 1,086 yards and six touchdowns. Last year he played in nine games with two starts and caught 18 passes for 181 yards. He caught 61 passes in 2007 but scored only one touchdown in 2007.

Edwards was at the center of trade rumors to the Giants before the draft. Now he has been linked to rumors of a trade to the Jets. Edwards has been an infrequent participant in the Browns offseason conditioning program.